Magnetic core matrix



United States Patent Office 3,225,336 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,225,336 MAGNETIC CORE MATRIX Robert J. Foster, Box 373, 338 Charring Cross Drive, Munroe Falls, Ohio Filed Jan. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,419 4 Claims. (Cl. 340-174) The present invention relates to magnetic core matrixes and more particularly to the packaging of a plurality of magnetic cores on a screen mesh.

The magnetic core because of its economy, its inherent reliability and its magnetic characteristics has been extensively used in logical circuits. These circuits commonly employ a large number of cores. These cores are usually toroidal in shape and have small physical dimensions. Conductive wires extend through aligned series of the magnetic cores forming an entire array of cores interconnected and coordinately arranged. The large number of cores and the difficulties encountered in wiring them in proper assembled relation result in magnetic circuits that are both tedious and costly to construct. Various attempts have been made to design fixtures and provide techniques which reduce the time and ease of assembly. For instance, an open frame has been employed having cross wires anchored thereto and threaded through the cores to support them. In another development aplastic form having a single face molded correctly to orient core-receiving pockets was used as a fixture to hold the cores. This fixture did not produce the requisite amount of control of the large number of small cores. Core-holding matrixes of non-conductive material have been developed with core-holding slots and channels for the conductors. These matrixes have a limited degree of versatility and do not provide the magnetic circuit with thermostability.

It is, the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other diificulties of the prior art practice by the provision of a simple, and a compact magnetic core assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnetic core matrix which is easily assembled with the minimum amount of error.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a magnetic core matrix which is accessible for temperature stabilization by convection and/ or conduction heat transfer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making a magnetic core matrix which reduces the core damage and increases the accuracy of the circuit wiring.

According to the invention, the magnetic matrix comprises a plurality of electrically insulated sheets of mesh screen. Each sheet of mesh screen has secured thereto a plurality of coordinately arranged magnetic cores. Electrical conductor means are positioned around each core and portion of the mesh screen. The core containing sheets of mesh screen are surrounded by a frame means to form a conduit which permits the passage of cooling air through the sheet of mesh screen. Alternatively, the sheets of core containing mesh screen may be embedded in heat conductive and electrically insulated material to provide the matrix with thermal stability.

The invention further pertains to a novel method of making a magnetic matrix. A thin film of adhesive is applied to the mesh screen. This adhesive secures the individual cores to the mesh screen so that they will be firmly and accurately held in place. Electrical conductors are passed through the mesh screen and around the cores to form the particular desired circuit diagram. Stacking the separate sheets of the core containing screen in parallel planes permits the insertion of electrical conductor through a core in each of the sheets. The embedding of the entire structure of core containing mesh screen in heat conductive and electrically insulated material forms a matrix which has thermostability.

The exact nature of this invention as well. as other objects and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from the consideration of the following specification relating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one unit of the magnetic core matrix in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the unit of FIG. 1, taken through the section 22.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a convection. cooled magnetic core matrix.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conduction cooled magnetic matrix.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a matrix unit 10. The unit has a rectangular frame 12 which holds a plastic mesh screen 14 in a single plane. The mesh screen is made from a material that has electrically insulative and non-magnetic characteristics. Magnetic cores 16, 17, 18, and 19 are secured to the plane surface of the mesh screen. The location and the number of cores is determined by the particular circuit desired in the matrix unit. The cores 16 and 18 are toroidal in shape and are mounted flat against the mesh screen. A thin adhesive film 20 and 22 holds the respective cores on the mesh screen. Unitary multiaperture magnetic cores are readily mounted on the mesh screen.

The circuit wiring includes a horizontally extending X conductor wire which passes through the mesh screen and around the cores. The X conductor wire electrically couples the horizontally aligned cores secured to the mesh screen to each other and to the terminals 24 and 26. The Y conductor wire extends through the mesh screen and around the core-s secured to the mesh screen. The Y conductor wire extends vertically and couples vertically aligned cores with each other and to the terminal 28 and 30. A Z conductor Wire passes through the cores and the mesh screen substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mesh screen. The multi-aperture cores may be readily wound with a plurality of conductor wires.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a magnetic matrix 32 formed from a plurality of individual matrix units 10. The units 10 are arranged in parallel planes in side by side relationship. The frame means of the individual units are in contact with each other and form a conduit which directs the passage of a cooling fluid through the sheets of core containing mesh screen. The fluid represented by the arrows functions as a heat transferring medium to maintain the thermal characteristics of the matrix substantially constant.

The frames of the individual unit include passages 34 for the X and Y conductor wires. Terminals 36 and 38 are provided adjacent the openings 34 for the X and Y conductor wires. The Z conductor wire passes directly through the horizontally aligned cores and through the respective mesh screens. This construction permits the individual units 10 to be readily and easily removed from the matrix unit 32.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a unitized magnetic core matrix 40. The matrix includes a plurality of matrix units 10 stacked in parallel planes in side by side relationship. Each unit contains orifices 42 in the frame and terminals 44 and 46 for the X and Y conductor wires. The Z conductor wire extends horizontally through a row of cores positioned on the respective mesh screens. A thermosetting resin 48 having electrically insulative and heat conductive properties is positioned] around the core containing mesh screens and in direct contact therewith. The resin functions as a heat sink and provides the magnetic core matrix with uniform thermal characteristics. The magnetic core matrix units are made by applying a thin film of adhesive to the mesh screen and placing the cores on the adhesive film in accordance with the desired magnetic circuit. The X and Y conductor wires are inserted through the mesh screen and around the cores and are fastened to their respective terminals. To form a magnetic matrix the individual units are stacked in parallel planes in side by side relationship. The Z conductor wire is readily positioned through the core and the individual mesh screens supporting the cores. T he sheets of core containing mesh screen including'the X, Y, and Z conductor wires may be embedded in a thermosetting resin that is heat conductive and electrically insulative.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes in form, and details of the magnetic core matrix and the method by which it is made may be accomplished by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic matrix comprising an electrically insulative sheet of mesh screen, at least one magnetic core secured to the mesh screen, frame means fastened to the sheet of mesh screen to hold the screen in a single plane, a first electrical conductor means positioned around each core and a portion of the mesh screen, and a second electrical conductor means coupled to each core and extending substantially normal to the plane of the mesh screen. 2. A magnetic matrix comprising a plurality of electrically insulative sheets of mesh screen, a plurality of magnetic cores secured to each sheet of mesh screen,

each sheet having first electrical conductor means positioned around each core and a portion of the mesh screen, a second electrical conductor means coupling the cores of the respective sheets, and

frame means holding the sheets of mesh screen in spaced parallel relation to each other. 3. A magnetic matrix comprising a plurality of electrically insulative sheets of mesh screen, a plurality of magnetic cores adhesively secured to each sheet of mesh screen,

each sheet having first electrical conductor means positioned around each core and a portion of the mesh screen, a second electrical conductor means coupling the cores of the respective sheets, and a substantially solid heat conductive and electrically insulative material positioned around the cores in direct contact therewith so as to hold the sheets of mesh screen in spaced parallel relation to each other and in an integral matrix. 4. A magnetic matrix comprising a plurality of electrically insulative sheets of mesh screen arranged in side by side relationship, I

each sheet having at least one magnetic core ad hesively secured thereto, an electrical conductor means coupling the cores of the respective sheets, and frame means secured to and surrounding the core containing sheets of mesh screen holding the sheets in spaced parallel relation and forming a conduit for the passage of cooling fluid through' said sheets of mesh screen.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,901,736 8/1959 Sylvester 340l74 2,934,748 4/1960 Steimen 340174 2,961,745 11/1960 Smith 29155.5 2,985,948 5/1961 Peters 29-1555 OTHER REFERENCES Schlenker: Mounting for Magnetic Memory Cores, RCA Technical Notes, No. 190, 1 page, Aug. 18, 1958.

IRVING L. SRAGOW, Primary Examiner.

R. R. HUBBARD, R. G. LITTON, Assistant Examiners. 

4. A MAGNETIC MATRIX COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY INSULATIVE SHEETS OF MESH SCREEN ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATIONSHIP, EACH SHEET HAVING AT LEAST ONE MAGNETIC CORE ADHESIVELY SECURED THERETO, AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MEANS COUPLING THE CORES OF THE RESPECTIVE SHEETS, AND FRAME MEANS SECURED TO AND SURROUNDING THE CORE CONTAINING SHEETS OF MESH SCREEN HOLDING THE SHEETS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION AND FORMING A CONDUIT FOR THE PASSAGE OF COOLING FLUID THROUGH SAID SHEETS OF MESH SCREEN. 